1 Chronicles 6 in Hebrew & English

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Tenakh Study · Read 1 Chronicles in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link. Our Messianic Jewish notes appear below each passage; tap Commentary above to hide them. The full commentary on this chapter is on our 1 Chronicles commentary page.

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Tenakh Study · 1 Chronicles 6:1–66

1 Chronicles, Chapter 6

דברי הימים א ו

The sons of Levi and the lines of Gershom, Kehat and Merari, the singers Heman, Asaf and Etan whom David set over the song in the house of Hashem, the line of Aharon from El’azar to Achima’atz, and the cities given to the Levi’im in the tribes of Israel.

Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. This chapter is 6:16–81 in most English Bibles: verse 1 here is verse 16 there, and so on.

6:1The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kehat (Kohath), and Merari.

אבְּנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשֹׁ֕ם קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃

6:2And these are the names of the sons of Gershom; Livni (Libni), and Shimei.

בוְאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת בְּֽנֵי־גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם לִבְנִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִֽי׃

6:3And the sons of Kehat were, Amram, and Yitzhar (Izhar), and Chevron (Hebron), and Uzzi’el (Uzziel).

גוּבְנֵ֖י קְהָ֑ת עַמְרָ֣ם וְיִצְהָ֔ר וְחֶבְר֖וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

6:4The sons of Merari; Machli (Mahli), and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levi’im (Levites) according to their fathers.

דבְּנֵ֥י מְרָרִ֖י מַחְלִ֣י וּמֻשִׁ֑י וְאֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּח֥וֹת הַלֵּוִ֖י לַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

6:5Of Gershom; Livni his son, Yachat (Jahath) his son, Zimah (Zimmah) his son,

הלְֽגֵרְשׁ֑וֹם לִבְנִ֥י בְנ֛וֹ יַ֥חַת בְּנ֖וֹ זִמָּ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

6:6Yo’ach (Joah) his son, Iddo his son, Zerach (Zerah) his son, Ye’atrai (Jeaterai) his son.

ויוֹאָ֤ח בְּנוֹ֙ עִדּ֣וֹ בְנ֔וֹ זֶ֥רַח בְּנ֖וֹ יְאָתְרַ֥י בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:7The sons of Kehat; Amminadav (Amminadab) his son, Korach (Korah) his son, Asir (Assir) his son,

זבְּנֵ֖י קְהָ֑ת עַמִּינָדָ֣ב בְּנ֔וֹ קֹ֥רַח בְּנ֖וֹ אַסִּ֥יר בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:8Elkanah his son, and Evyasaf (Ebiasaph) his son, and Asir his son,

חאֶלְקָנָ֥ה בְנ֛וֹ וְאֶבְיָסָ֥ף בְּנ֖וֹ וְאַסִּ֥יר בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:9Tachat (Tahath) his son, Uri’el (Uriel) his son, Uzziyah (Uzziah) his son, and Shaul his son.

טתַּ֤חַת בְּנוֹ֙ אוּרִיאֵ֣ל בְּנ֔וֹ עֻזִּיָּ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ וְשָׁא֥וּל בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:10And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Achimot (Ahimoth).

יוּבְנֵי֙ אֶלְקָנָ֔ה עֲמָשַׂ֖י וַאֲחִימֽוֹת׃

6:11As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Tzofai (Zophai) his son, and Nachat (Nahath) his son,

יאאֶלְקָנָ֑ה בְּנֵי֙ (כתיב בנו) אֶלְקָנָ֔ה צוֹפַ֥י בְּנ֖וֹ וְנַ֥חַת בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:12Eli’av (Eliab) his son, Yerocham (Jeroham) his son, Elkanah his son.

יבאֱלִיאָ֥ב בְּנ֛וֹ יְרֹחָ֥ם בְּנ֖וֹ אֶלְקָנָ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

6:13And the sons of Shmuel (Samuel); the firstborn Vashni, and Aviyah (Abiah).

יגוּבְנֵ֧י שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל הַבְּכֹ֥ר וַשְׁנִ֖י וַאֲבִיָּֽה׃

6:14The sons of Merari; Machli, Livni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,

ידבְּנֵ֥י מְרָרִ֖י מַחְלִ֑י לִבְנִ֥י בְנ֛וֹ שִׁמְעִ֥י בְנ֖וֹ עֻזָּ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

6:15Shim’a (Shimea) his son, Chagiyah (Haggiah) his son, Asayah (Asaiah) his son.

טושִׁמְעָ֥א בְנ֛וֹ חַגִּיָּ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ עֲשָׂיָ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

Commentary · 6:1–15

The three clans, and the house of Shmuel

Hebrew chapter 6 starts over with Levi, this time for the whole tribe (in the KJV, 6:16–30). Each clan had its work in the wilderness: Kehat carried the holy vessels, Gershom the curtains, Merari the boards and bars (Numbers 3–4).

The Kehati list runs “Korach his son, Asir his son, Elkanah his son” (6:7–8). Korach led the rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, but “the children of Korach died not” (Numbers 26:11). The sages say they repented at the last moment (Sanhedrin 110a). From them came the psalms that bear their name, and from them came Shmuel. The Midrash says this was Korach’s mistake: he saw Shmuel descending from him and concluded that he himself was destined for greatness. He did not see that his sons would repent and he would not (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:8).

The book of Samuel calls Elkanah “an Ephrathite” (1 Samuel 1:1); the Chronicler settles it: he was a Kehati Levite living in the hills of Efrayim, which is why the boy could sleep in the sanctuary at Shiloh. “Vashni” is not a name; Rashi and Radak read וַשְׁנִי (va-sheni) as “and the second,” so the verse means “the firstborn [Yo’el], and the second, Aviyah,” as in 1 Samuel 8:2. Those sons took bribes, and Israel used them as the excuse to ask for a king. The register keeps the whole family, not only the honorable.

Read more in the full commentary →

The singers in Hashem’s house

6:16And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Hashem, after that the ark had rest.

טזוְאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱמִ֥יד דָּוִ֛יד עַל־יְדֵי־שִׁ֖יר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה מִמְּנ֖וֹחַ הָאָרֽוֹן׃

6:17And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Shlomo (Solomon) had built the house of Hashem in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem): and then they waited on their office according to their order.

יזוַיִּהְי֨וּ מְשָׁרְתִ֜ים לִפְנֵ֨י מִשְׁכַּ֤ן אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד֙ בַּשִּׁ֔יר עַד־בְּנ֧וֹת שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיַּעַמְד֥וּ כְמִשְׁפָּטָ֖ם עַל־עֲבוֹדָתָֽם׃

6:18And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kehati (Kohathites): Heman a singer, the son of Yo’el (Joel), the son of Shmuel,

יחוְאֵ֥לֶּה הָעֹמְדִ֖ים וּבְנֵיהֶ֑ם מִבְּנֵי֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔י הֵימָן֙ הַמְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֖ל בֶּן־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃

6:19The son of Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eli’el (Eliel), the son of Toach (Toah),

יטבֶּן־אֶלְקָנָה֙ בֶּן־יְרֹחָ֔ם בֶּן־אֱלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־תּֽוֹחַ׃

6:20The son of Tzuf (Zuph), the son of Elkanah, the son of Machat (Mahath), the son of Amasai,

כבֶּן־צוּף֙ (כתיב ציף) בֶּן־אֶלְקָנָ֔ה בֶּן־מַ֖חַת בֶּן־עֲמָשָֽׂי׃

6:21The son of Elkanah, the son of Yo’el, the son of Azaryah (Azariah), the son of Tzefanyah (Zephaniah),

כאבֶּן־אֶלְקָנָה֙ בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֔ל בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־צְפַנְיָֽה׃

6:22The son of Tachat, the son of Asir, the son of Evyasaf, the son of Korach,

כבבֶּן־תַּ֨חַת֙ בֶּן־אַסִּ֔יר בֶּן־אֶבְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־קֹֽרַח׃

6:23The son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

כגבֶּן־יִצְהָ֣ר בֶּן־קְהָ֔ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

6:24And his brother Asaf (Asaph), who stood on his right hand, even Asaf the son of Berechyahu (Berachiah), the son of Shim’a,

כדוְאָחִ֣יו אָסָ֔ף הָעֹמֵ֖ד עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ אָסָ֥ף בֶּן־בֶּרֶכְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־שִׁמְעָֽא׃

6:25The son of Micha’el (Michael), the son of Ba’aseyah (Baaseiah), the son of Malkiyah (Malchiah),

כהבֶּן־מִיכָאֵ֥ל בֶּן־בַּעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה בֶּן־מַלְכִּיָּֽה׃

6:26The son of Etni (Ethni), the son of Zerach, the son of Adayah (Adaiah),

כובֶּן־אֶתְנִ֥י בֶן־זֶ֖רַח בֶּן־עֲדָיָֽה׃

6:27The son of Etan (Ethan), the son of Zimah, the son of Shimei,

כזבֶּן־אֵיתָ֥ן בֶּן־זִמָּ֖ה בֶּן־שִׁמְעִֽי׃

6:28The son of Yachat, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

כחבֶּן־יַ֥חַת בֶּן־גֵּרְשֹׁ֖ם בֶּן־לֵוִֽי׃

6:29And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Etan the son of Kishi, the son of Avdi (Abdi), the son of Maluch (Malluch),

כטוּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עַֽל־הַשְּׂמֹ֑אול אֵיתָן֙ בֶּן־קִישִׁ֔י בֶּן־עַבְדִּ֖י בֶּן־מַלּֽוּךְ׃

6:30The son of Chashavyah (Hashabiah), the son of Amatzyah (Amaziah), the son of Chilkiyah (Hilkiah),

לבֶּן־חֲשַׁבְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּֽה׃

6:31The son of Amtzi (Amzi), the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,

לאבֶּן־אַמְצִ֥י בֶן־בָּנִ֖י בֶּן־שָֽׁמֶר׃

6:32The son of Machli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

לבבֶּן־מַחְלִי֙ בֶּן־מוּשִׁ֔י בֶּן־מְרָרִ֖י בֶּן־לֵוִֽי׃

Commentary · 6:16–32

Heman, Asaf and Etan: song after the ark had rest

“These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Hashem, after that the ark had rest” (6:16). Three men, three clans, three positions: Heman the Kehati in the center, “his brother Asaf, who stood on his right hand” (6:24), and Etan of Merari on the left (6:29). Levi’s three sons had camped on three sides of the Tabernacle; now their descendants stand on three sides of the song.

Hebrew lesson: מִמְּנוֹחַ הָאָרוֹן (mi-menoach ha-aron), “from the rest of the ark.” The singing began when the ark stopped wandering and David brought it to Tziyon (chapters 15–16). Menuchah, rest, is David’s word for the Temple (28:2; Psalm 132:8). Song is what a people does when the ark is at rest. The Talmud derives it from the Torah: the “service of service” (Numbers 4:47) is song (Arakhin 11a).

Heman was “the son of Yo’el, the son of Shmuel” (6:18): the rebel’s house gave Israel its leading voice. Psalm 88, the darkest psalm, is “Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite,” and Psalm 89, the great psalm of the Davidic covenant, is “Maschil of Etan the Ezrahite.” Israel’s hymnal held both, the righteous one who goes down into darkness and the throne that lasts forever: Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David in song. When the Lamb opens the scroll, the elders “sung a new song” (Revelation 5:9). The service that began when the ark had rest will not end.

Read more in the full commentary →

6:33Their brethren also the Levi’im were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

לגוַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַלְוִיִּ֑ם נְתוּנִ֕ים לְכָ֨ל־עֲבוֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁכַּ֖ן בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Aharon and his sons

6:34But Aharon (Aaron) and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moshe (Moses) the servant of God had commanded.

לדוְֽאַהֲרֹ֨ן וּבָנָ֜יו מַקְטִירִ֨ים עַל־מִזְבַּ֤ח הָֽעוֹלָה֙ וְעַל־מִזְבַּ֣ח הַקְּטֹ֔רֶת לְכֹ֕ל מְלֶ֖אכֶת קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים וּלְכַפֵּר֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֥בֶד הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

6:35And these are the sons of Aharon; El’azar (Eleazar) his son, Pinchas (Phinehas) his son, Avishua (Abishua) his son,

להוְאֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֑ן אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בְּנ֛וֹ פִּֽינְחָ֥ס בְּנ֖וֹ אֲבִישׁ֥וּעַ בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:36Buki (Bukki) his son, Uzzi his son, Zerachyah (Zerahiah) his son,

לובֻּקִּ֥י בְנ֛וֹ עֻזִּ֥י בְנ֖וֹ זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה בְנֽוֹ׃

6:37Merayot (Meraioth) his son, Amaryah (Amariah) his son, Achituv (Ahitub) his son,

לזמְרָי֥וֹת בְּנ֛וֹ אֲמַרְיָ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ אֲחִיט֥וּב בְּנֽוֹ׃

6:38Tzadok (Zadok) his son, Achima’atz (Ahimaaz) his son.

לחצָד֥וֹק בְּנ֖וֹ אֲחִימַ֥עַץ בְּנֽוֹ׃

Commentary · 6:33–38

Aharon’s sons and the atonement

“But Aharon and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moshe the servant of God had commanded” (6:34).

This verse draws the line Korach tried to erase. The Levi’im serve (6:33); the sons of Aharon offer. The two altars, the Holy of Holies and the work of atonement belong to the kohanim alone, and the standard is what Moshe commanded. Then Aharon’s line is repeated down to Achima’atz (6:35–38), because the next section tells where these priests lived.

Yeshua “by his own blood… entered in once into the holy place” (Hebrews 9:12) as High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary. That does not finish Aharon’s sons on earth. Hashem swore to Levi as He swore to David: “If ye can break My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night… then may also My covenant be broken with David My servant… and with the Levi’im the priests, My ministers” (Jeremiah 33:20–21). Throne and altar stand or fall together, and both stand.

Read more in the full commentary →

The cities of the Levi’im

6:39Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aharon, of the families of the Kehati: for theirs was the lot.

לטוְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ מוֹשְׁבוֹתָ֔ם לְטִירוֹתָ֖ם בִּגְבוּלָ֑ם לִבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ לְמִשְׁפַּחַ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֔י כִּ֥י לָהֶ֖ם הָיָ֥ה הַגּוֹרָֽל׃

6:40And they gave them Chevron in the land of Yehudah (Judah), and the suburbs thereof round about it.

מוַֽיִּתְּנ֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם אֶת־חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֑ה וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֖יהָ סְבִיבֹתֶֽיהָ׃

6:41But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Kalev (Caleb) the son of Yefuneh (Jephunneh).

מאוְאֶת־שְׂדֵ֥ה הָעִ֖יר וְאֶת־חֲצֵרֶ֑יהָ נָתְנ֖וּ לְכָלֵ֥ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּֽה׃

6:42And to the sons of Aharon they gave the cities of Yehudah, namely, Chevron, the city of refuge, and Livnah (Libnah) with her suburbs, and Yatir (Jattir), and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,

מבוְלִבְנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֗ן נָתְנוּ֙ אֶת־עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֶת־חֶבְר֥וֹן וְאֶת־לִבְנָ֖ה וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶת־יַתִּ֥ר וְאֶֽת־אֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖עַ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:43And Chilez (Hilen) with her suburbs, Devir (Debir) with her suburbs,

מגוְאֶת־חִילֵז֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ אֶת־דְּבִ֖יר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:44And Ashan with her suburbs, and Beit Shemesh (Beth-shemesh) with her suburbs:

מדוְאֶת־עָשָׁן֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:45And out of the tribe of Binyamin (Benjamin); Geva (Geba) with her suburbs, and Alemet (Alemeth) with her suburbs, and Anatot (Anathoth) with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

מהוּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֗ן אֶת־גֶּ֤בַע וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֨יהָ֙ וְאֶת־עָלֶ֣מֶת וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־עֲנָת֖וֹת וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ כָּל־עָרֵיהֶ֛ם שְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה עִ֖יר בְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

6:46And unto the sons of Kehat, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Menashe (Manasseh), by lot, ten cities.

מווְלִבְנֵ֨י קְהָ֜ת הַנּוֹתָרִ֗ים מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמַּטֶּ֡ה מִֽ֠מַּחֲצִית מַטֵּ֨ה חֲצִ֧י מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה בַּגּוֹרָ֖ל עָרִ֥ים עָֽשֶׂר׃

6:47And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Yissachar (Issachar), and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naftali (Naphtali), and out of the tribe of Menashe in Bashan, thirteen cities.

מזוְלִבְנֵ֨י גֵרְשׁ֜וֹם לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָ֗ם מִמַּטֵּ֣ה יִ֠שָׂשכָר וּמִמַּטֵּ֨ה אָשֵׁ֜ר וּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֗י וּמִמַּטֵּ֤ה מְנַשֶּׁה֙ בַּבָּשָׁ֔ן עָרִ֖ים שְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵֽה׃

6:48Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Re’uven (Reuben), and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zevulun (Zebulun), twelve cities.

מחלִבְנֵ֨י מְרָרִ֜י לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָ֗ם מִמַּטֵּ֣ה רְ֠אוּבֵן וּֽמִמַּטֵּה־גָ֞ד וּמִמַּטֵּ֤ה זְבוּלֻן֙ בַּגּוֹרָ֔ל עָרִ֖ים שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵֽה׃

6:49And the children of Israel gave to the Levi’im these cities with their suburbs.

מטוַיִּתְּנ֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַלְוִיִּ֑ם אֶת־הֶעָרִ֖ים וְאֶת־מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃

6:50And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Yehudah, and out of the tribe of the children of Shim’on (Simeon), and out of the tribe of the children of Binyamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

נוַיִּתְּנ֣וּ בַגּוֹרָ֗ל מִמַּטֵּ֤ה בְנֵי־יְהוּדָה֙ וּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי־שִׁמְע֔וֹן וּמִמַּטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֵ֚ת הֶעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרְא֥וּ אֶתְהֶ֖ם בְּשֵׁמֽוֹת׃

The cities of Kehat’s sons

6:51And the residue of the families of the sons of Kehat had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Efrayim (Ephraim).

נאוּמִֽמִּשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בְּנֵ֣י קְהָ֑ת וַיְהִי֙ עָרֵ֣י גְבוּלָ֔ם מִמַּטֵּ֖ה אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

6:52And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Efrayim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

נבוַיִּתְּנ֨וּ לָהֶ֜ם אֶת־עָרֵ֧י הַמִּקְלָ֛ט אֶת־שְׁכֶ֥ם וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֖יהָ בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־גֶּ֖זֶר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:53And Yokme’am (Jokmeam) with her suburbs, and Beit Choron (Beth-horon) with her suburbs,

נגוְאֶֽת־יָקְמְעָם֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית חוֹר֖וֹן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:54And Ayalon (Aijalon) with her suburbs, and Gat-Rimon (Gath-rimmon) with her suburbs:

נדוְאֶת־אַיָּלוֹן֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־גַּת־רִמּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:55And out of the half tribe of Menashe; Aner with her suburbs, and Bil’am (Bileam) with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kehat.

נהוּמִֽמַּחֲצִית֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה אֶת־עָנֵר֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־בִּלְעָ֖ם וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ לְמִשְׁפַּ֥חַת לִבְנֵי־קְהָ֖ת הַנּוֹתָרִֽים׃

The cities of Gershom’s sons

6:56Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Menashe, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtarot (Ashtaroth) with her suburbs:

נולִבְנֵי֮ גֵּרְשׁוֹם֒ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֗חַת חֲצִי֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה אֶת־גּוֹלָ֥ן בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶת־עַשְׁתָּר֖וֹת וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:57And out of the tribe of Yissachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Dovrat (Daberath) with her suburbs,

נזוּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה יִשָׂשכָ֔ר אֶת־קֶ֖דֶשׁ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ אֶת־דָּבְרַ֖ת וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:58And Ramot (Ramoth) with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:

נחוְאֶת־רָאמוֹת֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־עָנֵ֖ם וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:59And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Avdon (Abdon) with her suburbs,

נטוּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֔ר אֶת־מָשָׁ֖ל וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶת־עַבְדּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:60And Chukok (Hukok) with her suburbs, and Rechov (Rehob) with her suburbs:

סוְאֶת־חוּקֹק֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־רְחֹ֖ב וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:61And out of the tribe of Naftali; Kedesh in the Galil (Galilee) with her suburbs, and Chamon (Hammon) with her suburbs, and Kiryatayim (Kirjathaim) with her suburbs.

סאוּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֗י אֶת־קֶ֤דֶשׁ בַּגָּלִיל֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־חַמּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶת־קִרְיָתַ֖יִם וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

The cities of Merari’s sons

6:62Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zevulun, Rimono (Rimmon) with her suburbs, Tavor (Tabor) with her suburbs:

סבלִבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִי֮ הַנּוֹתָרִים֒ מִמַּטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֔ן אֶת־רִמּוֹנ֖וֹ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ אֶת־תָּב֖וֹר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:63And on the other side Yarden (Jordan) by Yericho (Jericho), on the east side of Yarden, were given them out of the tribe of Re’uven, Betzer (Bezer) in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Yahtzah (Jahzah) with her suburbs,

סגוּמֵעֵ֜בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֣ן יְרֵחוֹ֮ לְמִזְרַ֣ח הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ מִמַּטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֶת־בֶּ֥צֶר בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶת־יַ֖הְצָה וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:64Kedemot (Kedemoth) also with her suburbs, and Mefa’at (Mephaath) with her suburbs:

סדוְאֶת־קְדֵמוֹת֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־מֵיפַ֖עַת וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:65And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramot in Gil’ad (Gilead) with her suburbs, and Machanayim (Mahanaim) with her suburbs,

סהוּמִ֨מַּטֵּה־גָ֔ד אֶת־רָאמ֥וֹת בַּגִּלְעָ֖ד וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֑יהָ וְאֶֽת־מַחֲנַ֖יִם וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

6:66And Cheshbon (Heshbon) with her suburbs, and Ya’zer (Jazer) with her suburbs.

סווְאֶת־חֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶׁ֔יהָ וְאֶת־יַעְזֵ֖יר וְאֶת־מִגְרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃

Commentary · 6:39–66

The Levi’im’s towns and the cities of refuge

Levi received no territory; “Hashem is their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 18:2). Instead every tribe gave towns with pasture land, forty-eight in all, as Moshe commanded (Numbers 35:7). All thirteen priestly towns lie in Yehudah, Shim’on and Binyamin, within a day or two of Yerushalayim: the lot put Aharon’s sons around the city that would one day hold the Temple, long before anyone knew it. Among them were Chevron, where David was anointed, and Anatot, Jeremiah’s birthplace (6:45).

Six were עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט (arei ha-miklat), cities of refuge, where the manslayer stays “until the death of the high priest” (Numbers 35:25). The sages added mercy: the roads were signposted “Refuge, refuge” at every crossroads (Makkot 10b), and the words of Torah themselves are a refuge (Makkot 10a), which is why the refuges were Levite towns. FFOZ sees here “the undying high priest of the order of Melchizedek, who secures a permanent refuge for those who cleave to Him” (End of Days, Lessons 42–43, “Length of Days–City of Refuge”).

Moshe said that when Hashem enlarges Israel’s border, “then shalt thou add three cities more” (Deuteronomy 19:9). Only six were ever set apart. Rambam reasons that “this commandment has never been fulfilled. Surely the Almighty did not give this commandment in vain” (Hilchot Melachim 11:2), so a king must come who enlarges the land. An unfinished mitzvah is a promise. And Ya’akov’s word, “I will scatter them in Israel,” became a gift: a teacher within a day’s walk of every Israelite.

Read more in the full commentary →

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers: Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Chronicles they differ from most English Bibles in chapters 5, 6 and 12; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. The notes here are short versions of our full 1 Chronicles commentary, which is a draft for our teachers to review. They are shown by default; tap Commentary to hide them.
Quiz: Written by Benei Avraham for young readers (about 11 and up). Every answer is in the chapter on this page. Answers and scores are kept only in this browser (local storage) and can be cleared with Start over.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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1 Chronicles, Chapter 6

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